ThenumberofEnglishmenwhowereinthehabitofreading，wasprobablynotasixthofwhatitnowis。Ashopkeeperorafarmerwhofoundanypleasureinliterature，wasararity。
Nay，therewasdoubtlessmorethanoneknightoftheshirewhosecountryseatdidnotcontaintenbooks，receiptbooksandbooksonfarrieryincluded。Inthesecircumstances，thesaleoftheSpectatormustbeconsideredasindicatingapopularityquiteasgreatasthatofthemostsuccessfulworksofSirWalterScottandMr。Dickensinourowntime。
Atthecloseof1712theSpectatorceasedtoappear。Itwasprobablyfeltthattheshort—facedgentlemanandhisclubhadbeenlongenoughbeforethetown;andthatitwastimetowithdrawthem，andtoreplacethembyanewsetofcharacters。InafewweeksthefirstnumberoftheGuardianwaspublished。ButtheGuardianwasunfortunatebothinitsbirthandinitsdeath。
Itbeganindulness，anddisappearedinatempestoffaction。Theoriginalplanwasbad。Addisoncontributednothingtillsixty—sixnumbershadappeared;anditwasthenimpossibletomaketheGuardianwhattheSpectatorhadbeen。NestorIronsideandtheMissLizardswerepeopletowhomevenhecouldimpartnointerest。Hecouldonlyfurnishsomeexcellentlittleessays，bothseriousandcomic;andthishedid。
WhyAddisongavenoassistancetotheGuardian，duringthefirsttwomonthsofitsexistenceisaquestionwhichhaspuzzledtheeditorsandbiographers，butwhichseemstoustoadmitofaveryeasysolution。HewasthenengagedinbringinghisCatoonthestage。